#16 Ferris State Earns Senior Day Win Over #20 NMU In Battle Of Ranked Squads

Postgame Highlights & Interview 

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — The Ferris State University women's basketball squad secured a big Senior Day victory on Saturday (Feb. 21), defeating Northern Michigan, 80-68, in a battle of nationally-ranked squads inside Jim Wink Arena.

The 16th-ranked Bulldogs stayed within a game of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) lead and gave six seniors a memorable win by topping the 20th-ranked Wildcats to complete a season sweep over NMU.

The Bulldogs utilitzed a strong first-half performance and led by as many as 17 points in the third quarter. FSU secured the win by shooting 40.0% from beyond the arc and recording 20 assists.

Ferris State began the first quarter by establishing a strong lead, opening with a layup from senior Kadyn Blanchard at the 9:40 mark. Blanchard continued to be a key player, contributing with multiple defensive rebounds and scoring efforts, including a fast-break layup and a three-pointer, pushing the Bulldogs' advantage. Senior Mia Riley was instrumental in offense, sinking a three-pointer and assisting on several plays, including a fast-break assist to fellow senior Mya Hiram for a three-pointer at 4:17. Riley's playmaking was on full display with her season-high 10 assists. Northern Michigan's Sydney Whitehouse attempted to keep the score close with a three-pointer and free throws, but the Bulldogs maintained control, ending the quarter with a 24-12 lead.

The second quarter saw FSU maintain its lead over the Wildcats, concluding with a 20-18 advantage in the quarter. Riley connected on a three-pointer early in the quarter, assisted by senior Elle Irwin, to keep the Bulldogs in front. Blanchard added to the home team's momentum with two three-pointers, including a fast-break shot at the 52-second mark. NMU's Reide Osterman and Sarah Newcomer contributed with a layup and a three-pointer respectively, but Ferris State's scoring efforts ensured it retained the lead. The quarter ended with the Bulldogs holding a 44-30 edge at halftime.

Northern Michigan outscored the Bulldogs 25-16 in the third quarter, narrowing the deficit to 60-55 by the end of the period. FSU started strong with senior Ally Schultz hitting a three-pointer at 9:42, assisted by Riley, to extend its lead to 47-30. Riley's consistent offensive support was crucial as she continued to build on her streak, having scored at least 20 points in three consecutive games. NMU's Newcomer responded with two three-pointers, the first at 7:57, and the second at 6:44 to keep the pressure on. Despite a late push from Northern Michigan, which included a jumper from Jacy Weisbrod with just a second remaining, Ferris State maintained its lead heading into the final period.

The Bulldogs maintained control in the final quarter, securing a 20-13 scoring edge to close the game. Irwin's fast-break three-pointer at 9:11 extended Ferris State's lead to 63-57 and set the tone for their performance. Riley contributed significantly with a three-pointer and subsequent free throws, pushing the score to 68-57 with 7:16 remaining. NMU attempted a rally, narrowing the gap to 73-68 following Alyssa Hill's layup at 3:29. However, the Bulldogs' consistent scoring, capped by Riley's three-pointer at 1:40, solidified an 80-68 victory.

Blanchard led Ferris State with 23 points, converting 9 of 15 attempts from the field and adding four 3-pointers. Riley contributed significantly with 20 points and recorded a rare triple-double by collecting 15 rebounds while dishing out 10 assists. Hiram added 14 points, making 5 of her 10 shots, including two from beyond the arc. Irwin posted six rebounds and two steals, supplementing her five points with three assists.

Weisbrod led NMU with 16 points, converting 6 of 16 field goals and 2 of 8 from beyond the arc. Hill contributed significantly with 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds while blocking two shots. Whitehouse added 13 points, hitting 4 of 10 from the field and securing five rebounds. Newcomer made an impact with 11 points, including three 3-pointers, and recorded three assists.

The Bulldogs honored a group of six seniors following the home win, including Irwin, Blanchard, Riley, Schultz, Hiram and Emma Schierbeek, who have all played key roles in FSU's recent championship success.

Ferris State improved to 22-4 overall and 15-2 in the GLIAC with the win, trailing only rival Grand Valley State by a single game atop the league standings with three games remaining in the regular season.

The Bulldogs will play their final regular-season home game on Monday (Feb. 23) night versus Michigan Tech with tipoff set for 5:30 p.m. (ET) inside Jim Wink Arena.